How to Write a Pet Resume for Apartment Rental in 2026 (Free Template + 10 Steps)

Lead with a high-quality photo of your pet looking calm and well-groomed. Choose a shot that shows your pet’s true size and personality. A photo of your dog sitting politely or your cat lounging in sunlight does more emotional work than any paragraph of text. Avoid action shots that make your pet look chaotic, even if they’re adorable.

Landlords want specifics. Include your pet’s full name, breed (mixed breeds should list both components — “Labrador/Beagle mix”), age in years and months, and current weight. For dogs, you can include expected adult weight if they’re still growing. This information directly addresses the most common landlord questions before they’re asked.

Clearly state whether your pet is spayed or neutered, and if so, at what age. Altered pets are less likely to spray, mark territory, or exhibit aggressive behavior — and landlords know this. If your pet is not yet altered due to age, note your plan to spay or neuter once appropriate.

Include a brief table of your pet’s current vaccinations with dates. For dogs: rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella. For cats: rabies, FVRCP. You don’t need to include the full vet record — just a clean summary showing your pet is current. This demonstrates ongoing medical responsibility, which correlates with responsible ownership overall.

A pet vaccination record organizer helps keep this information neatly accessible.

List any obedience classes, CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certifications, therapy animal training, or behavioral training your pet has completed. Even a single puppy class is worth mentioning — it shows investment in your pet’s behavior. The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program is especially recognized by landlords as a meaningful behavioral benchmark.

If your cat is litter-trained and indoor-only, note that clearly — it addresses the main landlord concern before it’s raised.

Include your vet’s clinic name, address, phone number, and your pet’s patient ID number. A landlord who can call and verify that your pet has annual wellness visits and is genuinely known to a licensed vet is a landlord who’s significantly more comfortable saying yes.

Write 3–5 sentences about your pet’s temperament and behavior in a home environment. Be honest but frame positives clearly. Mention things like: “Bella is quiet during the day while I work from home,” “Max has lived in apartments his entire life and is familiar with the sounds of shared building living,” or “Luna has never shown aggression toward strangers or other animals.”

Avoid overstatements — landlords can tell when a description sounds scripted. Specificity reads as genuine.

Briefly outline your pet’s typical day: when they’re fed, walked, and exercised. This matters because landlords worry about noise (a dog alone all day), odors (infrequent walks), and yard use. A clear routine demonstrates that your pet’s needs are being actively managed. If you use a dog walker, mention it. If you work from home, that’s genuinely reassuring to include.

A comfortable walking harness and a consistent outdoor schedule signal to any landlord that barking and indoor accidents won’t be problems.

Include at least two references: ideally a previous landlord who can confirm your pet caused no damage, and a neighbor who can speak to your pet’s behavior in shared living situations. If you’re a first-time renter, a vet, trainer, or dog daycare staff member is a solid substitute.

Always notify your references before submitting. A reference who’s surprised by a call is a weak reference.

Close the resume with a clear, forward-looking offer: offer a pet meet-and-greet, offer to pay an additional pet deposit, offer to provide a professional carpet cleaning receipt at move-out. These signals reduce perceived risk and show you’re approaching the arrangement as a professional renter, not as someone hoping to slip their pet under the radar.

See our full guide to 25 smart ways to get landlord pet approval for additional negotiation strategies.